Community Worker - Outreach and Development

Bring positive change to communities from the grassroots up.

The Sheridan Community Worker – Outreach and Development program equips you with skills to empower a local, regional or international community to bring about change. Learn what you need to know to facilitate and organize a grassroots effort. Get real world experience through the program’s over 575 hours of field placement. Through your community development diploma program, you'll gain skills and knowledge in:

Facilitating groups and workshops

Community economic development

Advocacy and conflict resolution

Health promotion

Partnership and coalition building

Human rights and community organizing

Fundraising and grant writing

Developing and conducting surveys

Community Engagement

Community Leadership

Applied research

Non-profit marketing

Program planning

Participatory community development

Professors are experienced community workers. In addition to full academic qualifications, all have strong connections in the community.

Field Practica Give Real-World Experience

In Year 2 you'll engage in a placement that will help build your employability skill-set. You'll spend two days per week in field placement in Term 3, and in Term 4 field placement is three days per week plus one block week.

Awards

Awards are granted in this program based on community leadership and academic excellence.

University Links

The Community Worker-Outreach and Development diploma program has an Articulation Agreement with Athabasca University. Credits count toward the Bachelor of Professional Arts in the Human Service Major program.

The Community Worker-Outreach and Development program is available at the Sheridan Davis Campus, Brampton, Ontario.

Program Outcomes:

Work with communities to build change strategies that promote social and economic justice and challenge patterns of oppression and discrimination.

Create a community engagement plan utilizing principles of community leadership and volunteer management.

Plan, design and manage a fundraising project using creative and effective techniques and strategies.

Develop competency in community work roles ranging from direct service to classical advocacy and organizing.

Analyze social inequalities and demonstrate creativity in meeting community needs.

Develop and maintain positive working relationships with colleagues, supervisors, and community partners.

Develop a community outreach plan in response to a community issue using marketing techniques with a social justice lens.

Facilitate conflict resolution and consensus building among groups and individuals through effective mediation strategies and skills.

CODE

TITLE

CREDITS

TERM 1

HEAL 17629

Health Promotion and the Lifecycle

3

PSRV 12511

Community Engagement

3

COMM 19999

Essential Communication Skills

3

SOCI16039

Introduction to Sociology

3

SOCI 13767

Human Rights and Community Organizing

3

CSRV 10016

Introduction to Community Work

3

Total:

18

TERM 2

CSRV 12935

Advocacy: Power and the Community

3

CSRV 12289

International Community Development

3

CSRV 14601

Foundations of Counselling

3

CSRV 10738

Group Facilitation

3

CSRV 14115

Community Based Research

3

GNED

General Education Elective

3

Total:

18

TERM 3

PSRV 13566

Mediation and Conflict Resolution

3

CSRV 12903

Non-Profit Marketing and Community Outreach

3

PSRV 18783

Fundraising and Grantwriting

3

BUSM 11249

Community Leadership

3

FLPL 28350

Practicum Seminar 1

2

FLPL 29901

Practicum 1

8

Total:

22

TERM 4

CSRV 20441

Advanced Issues in Community Development

3

PSRV 15037

Program Planning and Evaluation

3

FLPL 25524

Practicum Seminar 2: Community Outreach

3

FLPL 22361

Practicum 2: Community Outreach

9

GNED

General Education Elective

3

Total:

21

Note: Courses subject to change.

A Sheridan education enhances your job prospects. When you complete your Community Worker diploma program, you'll be qualified to work in the following areas:

Community engagement and consultation

Group facilitation

Non-profit marketing

Fundraising and proposal writing

Health promotion

Resource creation

Conflict resolution

Program planning

Community engagement

Our graduates work in both profit and non-profit human service organizations including such employers as The Boys and Girls Club, Region of Peel, Salvation Army, various food banks and public housing and others.

"The Community Worker program helped prepare for my current position at the Boys and Girls Club in many ways. From basic counselling skills to conflict resolution to program planning, I am well equipped to perform and contribute to my community on many levels. I would recommend this program to anyone who is looking to bring about sustainable community change."

- Chantelle Selkridge, 2011 Graduate
Community Worker – Outreach and Development program

Program Eligibility

Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent, including these required courses:

One English, Grade 12 (ENG4C or ENG4U)

or

Mature student status. (See "Admissions" section for details.)

Applicant Selection

Eligible applicants will be selected on the basis of their previous academic achievement (the average of their six highest senior-level credits, including required courses).

Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements for this program will be assessed and advised individually and may be considered for other, related programs.

Criminal Record Check and Immunization Requirements

Sheridan field placement agencies may require a police record check for criminal offences, a vulnerable sector check and/or a current acceptable record of immunization. Students will be required to provide this documentation directly to their field placement prior to the start of the placement and at their own expense. Students who cannot meet these requirements may have limited field placement opportunities. Please refer to Sheridan's health services' immunization information, or come in to one of the campus health centres.